During the fifth and final Test match between England and India at The Oval, an incident occurred on Day 2 involving Indian pacer Akash Deep and England's opening batsman Ben Duckett. The event unfolded after Deep dismissed Duckett, who had been playing aggressively, for 43 runs.
England's opening pair, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, launched a rapid offensive, propelling their team to a 92-run opening stand in just 12.5 overs. Duckett, in particular, was finding boundaries with ease, showcasing his aggressiveintent. He struck two remarkable sixes with scoop shots over the slip cordon. However, Akash Deep managed to break through, dismissing Duckett in the 13th over. Duckett attempted a reverse scoop off a fullish delivery from Deep that nipped away but only managed to edge the ball to the keeper, Dhruv Jurel.
Following the dismissal, Akash Deep reacted with an animated celebration. He pumped his fist in front of Duckett and then put his arm around the departing batsman's shoulder, exchanging a few words. This behavior prompted a reaction from KL Rahul, who intervened and pulled Akash Deep away, seemingly to prevent any further escalation. Umpire Ahsan Raza also had a word with the bowler after the incident.
The incident sparked discussions among cricket commentators and fans. Some observers, including former cricketers Dinesh Karthik and Michael Atherton, felt that Akash Deep's send-off was unnecessary and advised the pacer to exercise caution. Atherton questioned the appropriateness of a bowler putting his arm around a dismissed batter. Others, however, saw it as a display of controlled aggression, highlighting the intensity of the moment and the importance of the wicket.
Despite the discussions, reports indicated that Akash Deep's actions were not excessively aggressive. Nonetheless, there was speculation that the match referee might review the incident.
Notably, this dismissal marked the fourth time in Test matches that Akash Deep had taken Ben Duckett's wicket. This added another layer to their on-field battle, with Akash Deep seemingly having the upper hand in their encounters.
